Submarine toy



S. H. GORDON Nov. 28, 1961 SUBMARINE TOY Filed Aug. 15, 1958 INVENTOR.

ATT'Y United States Patent 3,010,255 UBMARINE TOY Stanley H. Gordon, 7679 N. Rogers Ave., Chicago, 111. Filed Aug. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 755,196 7 Claims. (Cl. 46--243) This invention relates to improvements in motor driven nautical toys and more particularly to toys designed to operate intermittently on and under the surface of the water.

One of the problems of such toys is that of water leaking into the hull compartments containing the motor and other elements which can be damaged within a short time.

Any water getting into the hull compartment upsets the balance and buoyancy of the toy and can stop its operation or cause it to sink, since to facilitate under water operation, diving toys are designed with minimum buoyancy.

It is relatively easy to provide 'a watertight seal at points in the hull or body where access is required, because stationary parts are secured together; for example a removable cover to change batteries; but sealing the rotatable propeller shaft in the hull or propeller shaft tube by a conventional seal is quite difiicult in toys. In previous water toys driven by flea-power motors the friction caused by conventional seals greatly reduces the propeller speed and causes a heavy drain on the power supply without useful work being performed. Also, the seals used in such toys tend to leak after a short time due to evaporation of the oil in the seal packing, wear, or seal shrinkage.

An alternative to a seal is to enclose the propeller shaft in a tube. An inclined tube is sealed to the hull, and generally the tube is inclined downwardly from the motor and out through the hull. The propeller shaft runs freely in the tube, and the water rises inside the tube only as far as the air pressure inside the hull permits. This arrangement has several disadvantages however, one of which is the limitation as to buoyancy space in the hull exposed to the tube. If it is too large a space, water from the tube will enter the hull. Another disadvantage is that the propeller operates at an angle to the direction of the motion of the hull, and thus loses efficiency for forward movement and at the expense of good performance. Also, the motor must be either mounted at an angle, or connected to the propeller shaft by a universal joint such as a spring, which reduces the efiiciency of the drive train. The chief disadvantage however with the tube arrangement, as far as the present invention is concerned, would be that when the toy is inverted in the water by the user, water freely enters the hull, and diving toys would be quickly filled with water due to rapidly increasing water pressures In addition to the problem of preventing the entry of water into the motor and other parts of the toy, previous toys lack the realistic action of repeatedly diving and surfacing; operating intermittently; and reversing directions.

This singular type of operation provokes a strikingly realistic action in a toy whale, alligator, submarine or the like, since the toy appears to be intelligently responsive to life conditions under whichsuch actions would be performed. v

Moreover, prior to this inventionthe power supply has been quickly exhausted by the requirement for the continuous use of power while the toy is in operation. With the present invention, idleness is provided for realism and also to save power. Not only is idleness used advantageously, but operation forwardly and reversely more than doubles the useful operating time and entertainment value of the toy.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a nautical toy having a motor compartment completely and permanently watertight so as to eliminate the necessity of and difliculties experienced with a propeller shaft tube or a propeller shaft seal.

The invention is also characterized by a novel performance pattern of natural actions and operational sequences generally encountered with intelligent controls, so that nautical toys can 'be made to dive and surface repeatedly, with the motor starting and stopping or reversing automatically while in operation to produce the continuous diving and surfacing action.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a nautical toy intermittent rnotor operation in order to greatly reduce the drain on the power supply Still another object of this invention is to utilize a time delay switch which controls the descent and the action of the toy.

Another object is to provide a toy which is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, is rugged in construction and lifelike in performance.

These being among the objects of this invention, other and further objects will be apparent from the description and drawings relating thereto in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, a submarine, showing a control switch in phantom;

FIgIG. 2 is a top View of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is a crom sectional view of the lower half of the hull of the submarine, showing the control switch in cross-section;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation 'of a submarine conning tower in which an alternative control switch of a float type is disclosed; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation 'of a submarine conning tower in which analternative control switch of pressure sensitive, surface sensing type is used.

In order to accomplish the objects stated, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein in the form of a toy submarine having a buoyant hull, dive planes, rudder, and rear horizontal stabilizing planes, as found with real submarines. A watertight hatch provides the access required for changing the power source, such as a battery. A periscope is rotatably mounted on the conning tower of the hull, and the periscope shaft is attached to a rotary on-ofi switch in the conning tower. There is preferably a single propeller at the stem, attaehed to a propeller shaft journalled in the hull. The battery and an electric motor are mounted inside an air sealed compartment in the hull. The motor shaft preferably is not mechanically attached to the propeller shaft, but drives it by means of magnetic flux. The magnets of this drive are spaced and separated by a thin, nonmagnetic wall which completely seals the motor compartment from the water, while the propeller shaft compartment is open'to the water, preferably in a way that when the toy is placed in the water, air is trapped and when the propeller starts a trail of bubbles is left behind the submarine as it moves forwardly and submerges.

Inside the keel, the motor control time delay switch preferably comprises a sealed tube mounted on an incline, having the lowest'portion aft. Two contacts are sealed into the lower end of the tube and the tube contains a quantity of mercury. -'l'he'sides of the tube are so constructed as to delay the flow of mercury from one end to the other, providing the time delay feature of the switch. r

A second embodiment of the invention-is identical to the first, except for the use of a' differentltype of time delay switch consistingof an arrangementin which buoyancy. is employed. The. time .delay switchis contained ina compartment in the conning tower which floods and empties as the submarine dives and surfaces. The time delay switch comprises a float mounted on an arm pivoted so as to-allowthe float to rise and fall as the water level in the compartment risesand falls. The bottom of the float contains a contact bar which seats between the contact points. Two holes regulate the flooding and emptying of the conning tower compartment.

A third embodiment of the invention is identical to the first except for the use of a pressure sensitive, surface sensing switch. A conning tower compartment containing a float actuated switch is open to the water only at the bottom. Water enters through a one-way check valve as the submarine depth increases. At a pre-set depth enough water has entered to lift the float to break electrical contact. The submarine then surfaces but the water in the compartment is retained by 'a second ball valve float, which does not lower the compartment water level until the submarine has surfaced. Then the ball float drops away from sealing position allowing the compartment water to escape and the contact float makes electrical contact again.

Still another embodiment of the invention is identical to the first except for the use of a thermal switch in the motor circuit to regularly start and stop the motor.

An additional embodiment of the invention is an additional switching arrangement added to any or all of the previous embodiments. ble pole double throw switch linked to a movably mounted rod which extends beyond both ends of the hull. When the toy drives either end of this rod against a solid object, it operates the switch, reversing the motor.

So that the present invention may be more clearly understood applicant now refers to the drawings in which:

The hull 10 is constructed of metal, plastic, or other suitable material; It is designed 'to float in water in a horizontal attitude, about nine-tenths submerged. It contains two compartments, one floodable 1 1, the other permanently sealed 12. :Attached to the hull at the stern, beneath waterline, are two' horizontal stabilizers 13. These are constructed of the same material as the hull and are fixedly mounted coplanar to each other. A vertical steering rudder '14,comprising a thin flat sheet of the same material as the hull, having the leading edge rolled to define a tubular portion 15, is mounted pivotally at the stern by a rudder mounting pintle wire 16 extending into the aforesaid tubular portion.

,The axis of the rudder is preferably inclined as shown in FIG. 1 to inwardly heel the hull when coming about.

At-the bow of the submarine, attached to each side of the hull below the waterline, are dive planes 17. These thin flat vanes are made of the hull material and are 'each attached to the hull by respective ball 'and socket joints; 18, so 'that they are adjustable to any dive angle desired. The conning tower 20 of like material is attached to the hull and contains a periscope which operates'an on-off'switch 22; 7 The propeller523 is'soldered to the propeller shaft 24,

which is journalled within th'e'hull in the floodable compartment 11. -A magnet drive consisting of a primary to-one ratio'; The primary drive magnet-'28 is attached ,to the end of the motor armature shaft 36 by a rubber fitting (notshown), and the secondary drivernagnet 30- .isyattached to the forward endbf the propeller shaft 24 byanidentical fitting. 'The motor 'is rigidly supported in the hull by a cross member 40; A battery .42 is.

mounted between contact points? and 46 and the batterymay be removed by opening the waterproof hatch 4 8. 1 Below the battery .is the: gravity actuated time delay switch 50, comprised of alsea'led tube 52 mounted on'an inclinej'with" the npper end toward the bow. .Two eleciricahcontact wi'res' 54 enterthe lower end' of thetube,

It includes a two position, douand a quantity of mercury 56 in the tube provides an electrical contact whenever it is present in the lower end of the tube. The mercury travels the length of the tube in response to gravity as the tube attitude changes during the diving and surfacing of the submarine. At either end of the tube there is an enlargement of the inside tube diameter 58. When the tube inclines downward from the mercury-filled end, the mercury is momentarily retained by an air trap formed by this enlargement. The purpose of this is to delay the action of the mercury as by a dash pot action for a moment ata given incline of the tube but not to stop it. Along the sides of the tube are projections 60 which further impede the progress of the mercury-from one end of the tube to the other, without stopping it.

Another principle of'self-acting time delay switchingfor a diving water toy is shown in FIG. 4 as a switch mounted in a float compartment 61 ofv the conning tower of a submarine A float 62 is mounted on an arm 64 pivoted at 66 so as to allow the float to rise and fall. The bottom of the float contains a contact bar 68 which seats between the contact points 70. Two holes, 72 and 74, regulate the flooding and emptying of the conning tower. When the conning tower is empty the contact is closed, starting the motor, and the submarine dives. In a predetermined time after the submarine dives, the conning tower fills with water, raising the float and breaking the contact. The contact will close again after the submarine has surfaced and water has drained from the conning tower, lowering the float contact bar to the contact points again, to restart the motor. v

Still another principle of switching is the pressure sensitive, surface sensing switch shown in FIG. 5. The compartment -77 containsa float 76 mounted on a float arm 78 which is pivoted 80 so that the rise and fall of float 76 will make and break the electrical contacts 82. A drain hole 84 is kept closed bythe valve float 86 when ever it is submerged, but when the'water level is lower than the drain hole 84, as when the submarinne has surfaced, the hole is open and the float is retained in prox imity to the drain hole 84 by a" retaining pin 88. A oneway valve comprising a valve hole 90, a ball 92,.and a ball retaining pin 94, allows water to enter but not to escape. a a

Another principle of switching (not shown) is an electrical thermal switch which can be placed in the motor circuit. Such a switch would operate regularly to start and stop the motor. a e I Another means (not'shown) for reversing the motor may be provided by a two position, double pole'double throw switch which is mechanically linked to a' rod, the ends of which project outwardly fromthe bow and stem of the hull. Upon striking any solid object, therod'would operate the switch, reversing the polarity of the motor circuit. I

The submarine embodying a'modification of the gravity actuated, time delay switch operates as'follows. On the surface of the water, the'submarine floatsin a horizontal position, nine-tenths submerged. The propeller shaft compartment is flooded, but thenon-rna'gnetic sealing" wall hermetically sealsthe motor compart'mentagainst the a water. The propeller, rudder, stabilizing planes and dive planes are submerged. The mercuryin the tube is resting i on the contact points toclosethe-motor circuit. With'the periscope switch turned on, the motor operatesto-drive the primary drive magnetjwhich is spaced close to but not touching the non inagnetic sealing wall. The magnetic flux of this magnet penetrates the wall anddrives; the secondary drive magnet mounted'on the propeller shaft; which rotates the shaft in its journals to drive thepropeller.

.The propeller drives-the submarine forward but also creates torqueawhich attempts to' rotate the submarine 'around its longitridinalaXisa Howeventhe low center of.

gravity and the control.;surfa' ces etfectively. fresistf this force. If the leading edges of the dive planes-are above horizontal, the submarine will continue to run on the surface. If they are slightly below the surface the submarine will begin a long shallow dive, and the dive angle will steadily increase. At a predetermined angle the mercury tube is tilted so that the mercury in the tube will attempt to roll from the contact points. The air trap formed by the bulb 58 will detain the mercury a few seconds, and then the mercury will start to descend to the bow end of the tube. The projections on both sides of the mercury impede its flow but do not stop it. The contacts are now open and the motor stops. The submarine continues to glide downward for a moment but its natural buoyancy compels it to rise and as it begins to do so, still gliding forward, the rear stabilizing planes offer more resistance to the rising motion than do the smaller bow planes, with the result that the bow slowly lifts, bringing the glide path of the submarine in a long curve toward the surface. When the bow has risen to horizontal the mercury, now at the forward end of the tube attempts to return to the contact end, but the air trap holds it and the bow continues to rise. Freeing itself of the air trap, the mercury is impeded in its rearward travel back toward the stern by the projections on both sides of the tube, allowing the bow to rise still further. Finally the mercury returns to the contact points, starting the motor. The submarine is driven the rest of the way to the surface under power, breaking the surface at a speed much faster than normal, due to the assistance of buoyancy, and immediately it begins another dive.

Varying the angle of the dive planes further down from horizonal causes the submarine to dive more quickly and steeply, and to attain the cut-off angle rapidly. In such a case the submarine may surface while still gliding, and then turn itself on while on the surface.

In a submarine having the floating contact in a floodable compartment, the submarine will dive at whatever angle the dive planes determine, and continue to dive until the float compartment floods sufliciently to lift the float contact bar from the contacts. The submarine will then glide to the surface and remain there until the float compartment drains, letting the float contact bar back down on the contact points, restarting the motor.

In a submarine having the pressure sensitive, surface sensing switch, the submarine will dive to a predetermined depth at which point sufficient water will be forced into the floodable compartment through the one-way valve to lift the float, breaking the circuit. The water is prevented from leaving the compartment by the one-way valve and also by a valve float, until the submarine glides to the surface. The valve float then releases the water in the compartment, allowing the contact float to drop, restarting the motor.

In a submarine having a thermal switch, the motor would start, operate for a predetermined time, and then stop, and remain stopped for a predetermined time, and then restart. The submarine would dive while the motor ran, and resurface while the motor was stopped.

In a submarine or other toy for use in water, having a two position double pole double throw switch linked to a movably mounted rod projecting outwardly from both ends of the hull, the motor is reversed every time the bow or stem of the toy strikes a solid object. If this switch were used in combination with any of the previously mentioned switches, it would add to their operation this impact reversing feature. 7

Having thus described one embodiment of the inven tion and several of its alternatives, it is to be understood that the mechanism of this structure may be applied to other structures or altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which are commensurate to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A buoyant toy for use in water comprising a hull having diving and steering control surfaces, a motor in said hull, means operated by said motor for propelling the hull, gravity responsive means for starting and stopping and reversing said motor, operative when the fore and aft attitude of the hull deviates a predetermined distance from the horizontal said gravity responsive means comprising an element movable between two predetermined limits, delay means for delaying the travel of said element between said limits, said delay means comprising physical projections in the path of travel of said element, said projections being permanently afixed in said path of travel to deflect and retard the movement of said moving element in either direction between said two predetermined limits.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which the last means includes a tube mounted in the hull and normally inclined downwardly at the rear, electrical switch contacts mounted at the ends of said tube, and a mobile mass of mercury in said tube of a height less than the vertical clearance in the tube when the mercury is located at a point in the tube intermediate its ends.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said gravity responsive means includes a tube mounted in the hull nad normally inclined downwardly at the rear, electrical switch contacts mounted at the ends of the tube, projections along both interior sides of said tube, and a mobile, electrically conductive bearing of a size smaller than the inside diameter of said tube and smaller than the space between said projections.

4. A buoyant toy for use in water comprising a hull having driving and steering control surfaces, a motor in said hull, means operated by said motor for propelling said hull, a floodable compartment within said hull and above the waterline of said hull, said compartment being partially open at the upper part of said compartment, whereby in the diving and surfacing of said hull said compartment floods and empties in a predetermined time and buoyant means within said compartment responsive to the water level Within said compartment whereby electrical contact is established when said buoyant means is unsupported by water in said compartment.

5. A combination called for in claim 4 in which the buoyant means for starting and stopping said motor includes a floodable compartment above the waterline of said hull, said compartment having holes restricting the passage of water both into and out of said compartment so as to delay both the flooding and the emptying of said compartment at a predetermined rate, a mobile float within said compartment, electrical contacts controlled by said float member to make the circuit when said float member falls in response to a change of water level in said floodable compartment.

. 6. A buoyant toy for use in water comprising a hull having driving and steering control surfaces, a motor in said hull, means operated by said motor for propelling the hull, and a time delay switch for repeatedly starting and stopping said motor in response to a predetermined deviation from the horizontal of the fore and aft attitude of the hull, said time delay switch including a gravity responsive element movable between first and second positions, means for temporarily delaying means comprising the closed ends of a tube receiving said element at each position and temporarily delaying said element by a vacuum formed therewith.

7. A buoyant toy for use in water comprising a hull having driving and steering control surfaces, a motor in said hull, means operated by said motor for propelling said hull, and pressure sensitive means for starting and stopping said motor, operative when said hull submarges or surfaces, said sensitive means including a compartment having a one-way valve for admittance of water, a float sealed water exit valve open when said valve is above water level, a mobile float member within said compartment, electrical contacts controlled by said float member to make contact when said float falls in re- 7 sponse to a change of water level in said floodable com- 2,243,568 partment. 2,515,511 7 2,601,142 References Cited in the file of this patent I 2 625,331

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,963,376 Papas June 19, 1934 830,268

, 8 Middler May 27, 1941 Hansen July 18, 1950 Hubbard June 17, 1952 Saunders 12111.20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Fr ance July 26 1938 

